Process of cleaning bottles



- Patented Sept. 13, 19,27.

UNITED sTAT s PATENT. OFFICE;

' CHARLES H. LOEW, OF AVON LAKE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOEW MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OE OHIOQ rnocnss or CLEANING BOTTLES.

2N0 Drawing.

This invention relates to a process for and sediment fromvthe insides and outsides of the bottles; but these treatments have proved ineifective in'the treatment of cer-v tain' kinds of dirt and sediment. For 1nstance, bottles used for grape juice have been subjected for long periods of time to a great 1 many soaking and internal brushing, scrubbing and rinsing operations, but without effectively removing the sediment which has accumulated therein. In the practice of my invention, I am enabled to clean the bottles most effectively in a comparatively short time, and with the employment of but a comparatively small number of operations. The process may be realized in and 2.5 through a y suitable apparatus, such, for instance, as the type shown in the patents ranted to uly 31, 1923, No. 1,463,763 and August 19,

1919, No. 1,313,706; hence no particular ap-.

paratus is illustrated herein.

In practicin my invention the bottles are preferably su jected, first to an internal rinsing treatment with lake-warm water under a pressure of from eight to twentyfour. pounds per square inch; that is to say, water having a temperature of about 110 F. This action is for the purpose of remove ing any loose sediment or dirt that is capable of being dislodged by water under pres- Sur The bottles are then subjected to a soaking operation with ordinary caustic solution. It is preferred to give them'three such soakings in succession. The first soaking is in,

caustic soda solution of about two ereent strength and having a temperature 0 about 110-130 F.; the second soaking is in caustic soda solutionof from four to eight percent strength and having a temperature of 5 1 50175 F5; while the third soaking is practically a repetition of the first soaking, with caustic soda solution of about two percent strength and having a temperature of about 130 F.

The rinsing with luke-warm water tends John R. Gruetter and myself on as well as any material soluble in water..

city service mains.

Application filed October 18, 1924. Serial No. 744,493.

to soften certain kinds of sediment and preliminarily warm the bottles. The first soaking with the 2% caustic solution serves to- I remove material loosened but not removed from the bottles in the first rinsing operas tion; also to remove some of the crust and scum. It serves further to warm up the bottles prior to their treatment-with the hot and strong caustic solution, thus preventing them from breaking under the high temperature of this second solution. The second treatment with the strong, hot, caustic solutron serves to take out practically all of the residue that is capable of being removed by caustic without prolonged treatment. The tlurd treatment with caustic solution will 'remove material which requires a long exposure to caustic solution and-also serves to cool the bottles down 'sufliciently to enable them to receive the next treatment.

Following the caustic solution treatment,

the bottles are rinsed with luke-warm water under a pressure of from eight to twentyfour pounds .per square inch'in order to remove the caustic solutiontherefrom, the temperature of the water being approximately 100 F.

After this rinsing operation,.the bottles are subjected to an internal rinsing, with acid, under a pressure of from one to one and one-half pounds per square inch.- The acid which is preferably employed is hydrochloric acid of from ten to thirty percent strength, the solution having a temperature of'from 90F. to 110 F. The bottles are preferablysubjected to at least two such ressure internal-rin'sings. Other acids may e employed, such, for instance, as citric acid and sulphuric acid. 1

' Following the acid treatment, the bottles are subjected to several successive internal rinsings, using ordinary water from\ the This rinsing is for the purpose of removing all of the acid from the interior of the bottles. After this treatpractice.

While it is preferable to treat the bottles,

with the causticfsolution before applying the acid solution thereto, it is possible to realize some oftheadvantages of my process'by reversing these steps, i. e.,-by treating By the hereindescribed process, bottles with the acid first and with the alkali later.

which have hitherto been considered incapable of such cleaning as would enable their re-use, can be thoroughly and completely cleaned, and at a comparatively small expense.

the bottles with water to remove the acid and sediment therefrom.

2. The process of cleaning bottles by means of an apparatus which comprises operating the said apparatus in such manner that the bottles therein are subjected to the following operations in succession: (a) soaking the bottles in a caustic alkali solution of about two percent strength and at a temperature of about HO -130 F.; (b) soaking or subjecting the bottles to the action of a caustic alkali solution of four to eight percent strength and at a temperature of 150-175 F.; (0) soaking or subjecting the bottles to the action of a caustic alkali solution of about two percent strength and at a temperature of about 130 F.; (d) removing the caustic alkali solution from the said bottles by means of fresh luke warm water; (6) subjecting the bottles thus treated to one or more internal rinsings with a mineralacid solution of from ten to thirty percent strength and at a temperature of from 90 F. to 110 F.; (f) removing with water the acid adhering to the bottles after the preceding step.

3. The process of cleaning bottles by means of an apparatus which comprises operating the said apparatus in such manner that the bottles therein are subjected to the following operations in succession: (a) soaking the bottles in a caustic alkali solution; (b) removin the caustic alkali solution from the sai bottles by means of water; (a) subjecting the bottles thus treated to one or more internal rinsings with a solution ofhydrochloric acid of from ten to thirty percent strength and at a temperature of from 90 F. to 110 F.; (d) removing with water the'acid adhering to'the bottles after the preceding step.

4:; The process of cleaning bottles by means of an apparatus which com rises operating the $9.1 apparatus in suc manner that the bottles therein are subjected to the following operations in succession: (a) subjecting the bottles to several successive neaaeia treatments with heated caustic alkali solution varying in strength and temperature; (6) rinsing the bottles with fresh luke warm water to remove caustic alkali therefrom; (c) subjecting the bottles to one or more internal rinsings, with a mineral acid solution; (d) rinsing the bottles with water to remove the acid therefrom.

5. The process of cleanin bottles in a bottle-cleaning apparatus whlch consists in operating the said apparatus in such manner as to secure the performance thereby strength and at a temperature of about 90 F. to 110 E; ((Z) and removing with water the acid adhering to the bottles.

6. The process of cleaning bottles by means of an apparatus which comprises operating the said apparatus in such manner that the bottles therein are subjectedto the following operations in succession: (a) soaking the bottles in a caustic alkali solution of about two ercent strength and at a temperature of about 110-130 F.; (b) soaking or subjecting the bottles to the action of'a caustic alkali solution of four to eight percent strength and at a temperature of 150-17 5 F.; (a). soaking or subjecting the bottles to the action of a'caustic alkali solution of about two percent strength and at a temperature of about 130 F.; ((1) removing the caustic alkali solution from the said bottles by means of fresh luke warm water; (6) subjecting the bottles thus treated to one or more internal rinsings with a mineral acid solution; (7) removing with water the acid adhering to the bottles after the preceding step. I

7. The process of cleaning bottles in a bottle-cleaning apparatus which consists in operating the said apparatus in such manner as to secure the performance thereby ofthe following actions 'in succession: (a) subjecting the bottles 'to treatment with heated caustic alkali solution; (6) removing the caustic alkali solution with fresh water; (0) treating the bottles with one or more internal pressure rinsings with a mineral' acid solution of from ten to thirty percent strength and at a temperature of about 90 F. to 110 F.;'(d) and removing with water the acid adhering to the bottles.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

CHARLES H. LOEW. 

